confusing initial letter

evansk1

In the Ireland, Dublin—Church Records, 1740–1913 [Part D] [MQ6L-LPR] batch there are two forms of initial M, as Maria and Margt in the tenth record on the RH page. Another feature is that superscript l (Michl) and e (Cathe) are identical, and I must judge what is the more likely in the context. That's all manageable. Now the question. In the fourth and seventh records on the RH page there is Mathl as a male name with each form of the M, and l in superscript (rather than e, would you think?). While there does exist a male name starting Math and with l, by the time of the 1901 census for Dublin there was no-one with that name, but 60 various Nathaniels. This letter is not N; there is a decent one of those (initial N is not so common, I find) on the LH page, Nichl, I suppose for Nicholas. Nevertheless I want to put Nathl for these, because I fear that indexing Mathl will make them hard for researchers to find. I am sure the Community has some valuable advice!

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Batches have been coming online much more quickly than in the past, but I don't know how long between when you finish and when the rest of us can see it. The post-processing is much faster now, and records are added piecemeal rather than after an entire project is completed.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

I have often seen Matthias (or variants) used in the parish registers for Matthew.

Julia Szent-Györgyi

I agree with Áine that it's probably Mathᵉ for Matthew, i.e. it should be indexed as "Mathe".

maryellenstevensbarnes1

Could it be handwriting?

evansk1

Thank you all for your help. I think the honest approach is to do what
you suggest, but I do have a concern. In 40 years of trying to
understand old handwriting I have not met that abbreviation for
Mat(t)hew; and neither has GenealogyInTime Magazine judging by its
list of abbreviations at

List of First Name Abbreviations

. But my research has always been in registers of
England, occasionally Wales, and for all I know it might be a feature
used commonly in Ireland. I have indexed about 1600 Irish records,
still early days.

Julia Szent-Györgyi

I'm tempted to pick one of the fathers listed with this name and research him, to see how he is recorded at the baptisms of his other children. Unfortunately, I don't have the time right now.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

@evansk1 I appreciate your desire to get it right.

As an Irish researcher of many years, I'm comfortable saying that Matthew is most likely the name on the record

May I show you an index of an Irish record I received as a hint this week? And it was suggested for the right person, my 2nd GGM, daughter of John Casey and Alley Flinn: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TJQ-QL4P
Name Mary Casey
Address Louth
Father's Name John F*om
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Aley F*om
Mother's Sex Female
Event Type Baptism
Event Date 28 Dec 1831
Event Place Ardee, County Louth, Ireland

As Julia often reminds us, the index is a finding aid; in this case, it did the job.

evansk1

Point made, Áine.

Julia: it's 1833, and they are Math & Eliza McDermott; and Math & Agnes B(prob. u)(a few letters blotted out)(unclear last letter with no long stroke unless h), so good luck with that. I'm being facetious, don't worry.

How long does it take for a batch to become available for public use, do you know?

evansk1

I don't think I put my "yes, this answered the question" in quite the right place! For what it's worth I have just submitted the batch.